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Health Foundation donates to Pierce County

The Kinnickinnic Health Foundation's recent grant of $1,000 will help fund the Pierce County Public Health Department's sharps disposal program, which serves Pierce and southern St. Croix Counties.

"The goal of the program is to help ensure the safe disposal of used syringes, needles and lancets," said Sue Galoff, assistant director of Pierce County Public Health. "Without this program, these medical sharps would likely be tossed out with regular household waste, posing a health risk to both waste handlers and the public at large."

This grant will help the public health department buy sharps containers, which are then distributed by the county, local pharmacies and River Falls Area Hospital.

When the sharps containers are full, they can be returned to the hospital, which absorbs the cost of the safe disposal of the containers.

"The foundation has a long history of supporting this program," said Heather Logelin, executive director of the Kinnickinnic Health Foundation. "We know that the county does not have the resources to purchase, distribute and dispose of these containers. This partnership with the public health department and the hospital helps meet the needs of our community."

The Kinnickinnic Health Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1978 to raise funds for River Falls Area Hospital and other local health initiatives. Since its inception, the foundation has raised and distributed more than $350,000 to support projects and scholarships that improve the health of the region.

To make a gift to the foundation or for more information about the foundation's grant making programs, contact Logelin at 426-4503 or heather.logelin@allina.com.